It has been approximately nine months since I last posted to this site. The interesting irony is that in those nine months I have not only been extremely busy with work and other commitments, it is the actual timeframe from the early revelation of my son and daughter-in-law conceiving and the now birth of our first grandchild, a little girl, named…..

Des Moines University (DMU) has used the tag line, “Doing A World of Good” for a few years now reflecting our focus on meeting the health care needs of a very global and changing society. We stress competence and compassion in our approach and we pride ourselves on infusing principles of collaboration and inclusivity in our work.

Actually, through a Diverse Health series launched by the Office of Multicultural…..

My husband, Thaddeus, and I are traveling and as we typically do….if we have time, we will grab local transit to go explore an area. We were waiting for a trolley and he sits down on the bench to wait. To my surprise, I look around and see this image. I snapped this picture of him and it was so profound to see this cougar glaring down on him.

I am a strong proponent of clear, authentic communications. One of the great challenges of leadership, however, is making sure messages are conveyed and received clearly. Unfortunately, there is a tendency sometimes for communications to be misconstrued and misinterpreted. So no matter how much you may try, words and the messages to be conveyed are not always heard or received in the manner in which they were intended.

One very important role for any college/university president is fund raising. There are always needs and never enough funding to accomplish all that we want to do for our organizations. At Des Moines University (DMU), we have a carefully articulated mission, with accompanying guiding principles (core values) and four visionary statements reflecting excellence in Education, Research, Service (Clinical and Community) and Health Policy/Advocacy. We also have goals and strategies reflecting…..

I have come to have considerable respect for an organization called the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) which is the premier organization centered on governance in higher education. AGB provides leadership and counsel to member boards, chief executives, and others to help them navigate the changing education landscape.

We at Des Moines University (DMU) have relied on this organization over the past few years as we look to follow best…..

Today I have been reflecting on the challenges of leadership and just how difficult it can be when politics enter into those decisions. In my book, “The Unconventional Journey..the Unlikely Choice “, I described my aspirations for leadership in higher education and my own personal doubts about being given a fair chance. I questioned whether or not I would be considered appropriate for the role and wondered whether or not…..

I am a proud mother of three sons. This picture was taken on Mother’s Day this year and it is amazing how time flies. Where are my little boys? And, who are these grown men? As time goes by, I find myself reflecting on the past and hoping that they have been well-prepared for their futures.

I have been invited to speak to a group of church leaders at an AME Clergy Institute. I was pleased to be invited for a number of reasons, first, because of my close family ties to the AME church and second, because of my genuine desire to be of service to my community. I grew up in the AME (African American Episcopal) church, the granddaughter of an AME minister……

I am a fan of Oprah Winfrey and “O, The Oprah Magazine”. This magazine is full of good information and insight on issues pertinent to women and families. These magazines are so concentrated with good information, however, that it typically takes me weeks sometimes to get through one of the journals.

I just received the September 2015 edition and was thrilled to see the cover headline about story telling,…..